Dallas: Not the same team

[stretch]

If Dirk's not making his shots, he's not doing much of anything else...same with Jason Terry, Stackhouse, and Devin Harris. Only guys who are still effective are Howard and Bass!

Whereas for the Spurs, if Duncan, Parker, or Ginobili have an off night offensively, they are still able to affect the game in other areas. Dallas needs more players like that in order to get over their mental deficiencies. They tend to give up in all other areas of the game if their shots aren't falling. You saw that against GS last season and this season as well. They need more all around players, not one dimensional ones. And it doesn't help that they have no real leader and that Avery keeps changing their lineups and his "team philosophy"

If Parker isn't making shots, hes pretty useless too. See earlier Dallas game this year.

[stretch]

I agree that one good game doesn't him put him in the same class as those two you mentioned. However, Manu does have the same number of rings as Kobe.

Robert Horry has more rings than Jordan, but that obviously doesn't mean a thing.

Manu averages less than 30 minutes a game and averages 20 points a game. Kobe averages 36 minutes a game and 27 points a game. LeBron averages 39 minutes a game and 30 points a game. Kobe and LeBron are their teams franchise player. Manu is a role player. Manu plays on a team with a guy named Tony Parker and Tim Duncan while LeBron plays with Gooden and Boobie and Kobe plays with Fisher and Odom.

Manu does have to carry his team like the two you mentioned do. I think if he had to, you'd see more games you like you witnessed last night. Not saying he'd be exactly like Kobe or LeBron, but you'd hear more of him.

To top that off, Manu has more heart than those two guys combined. I'll take that.

Kobe and Lebron also have to distribute the scoring load when playing, and don't have any reliable second options. Manu is sent out there with the sole purpose to score, and he has other reliable options to help take pressure off of him.

Manu does not have to carry his team anywhere CLOSE to the way that Lebron and Kobe does. And there is no way in that Manu could even dream of doing what Lebron singlehandedly did to the Pistons in game 5 of last year. Lebron can singlehandedly win an entire game from start to finish. Manu absolutely can not. I'd say Lebron has plenty of heart. It's just not as easy to perform when you don't have other people on your team giving you a consistent effort, the way Manu's teammates do. Replace Manu with Lebron on the Spurs, and the Spurs are probably the greatest team of all time. Replace Lebron with Manu on the Cavs, and there is no way in they make it to the finals.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

One good game does not put you in a class with Lebron and Kobe. If he can average over 30/5/5 for an entire season then we can talk.

But yea, he played a very good game. And Dallas played a terrible game by their standards.

Dude, he's not required to. Plain and simple. I would recommend you to look at his career when he was playing for other teams and had to do most of the scoring. Look at Tim Duncan, do you have any doubts in your mind that if he had to do most of the scoring as Kobe or Lebron have, he wouldn't bring you 30/15/5 each game? He would for sure but that's not the plan. He puts getting rings as a priority. I bring the AI example again: does it matter if you score 50 and 60 points per game and not being able to get a ring and lose games? That's why I don't watch him play regardless of his scoring abilities.

[1Parker1]

If Parker isn't making shots, hes pretty useless too. See earlier Dallas game this year.

You are pointing out one game, I pointed out an entire playoff series and several games this season in which certain key Mavs players proved time and again that if they arent scoring, they arent doing much of anything else. Parker has had plenty of games where he hasn't shot the ball well, but still ran the Spurs offense good, handed out assists, and still knocked down an important shot or two in the 4th. Outside of Howard, the Mavs dont have all around guys. What exactly does Dirk, Terry, Stackhouse do for the Mavs if their shots aren't falling?

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Manu does not have to carry his team anywhere CLOSE to the way that Lebron and Kobe does. And there is no way in that Manu could even dream of doing what Lebron singlehandedly did to the Pistons in game 5 of last year. Lebron can singlehandedly win an entire game from start to finish. Manu absolutely can not. I'd say Lebron has plenty of heart. It's just not as easy to perform when you don't have other people on your team giving you a consistent effort, the way Manu's teammates do. Replace Manu with Lebron on the Spurs, and the Spurs are probably the greatest team of all time. Replace Lebron with Manu on the Cavs, and there is no way in they make it to the finals.

Wrong again. Manu singlehandlely won the game last night or he was very close. Manu has singlehandlely won games for the spurs many times in playoffs, he did it against the nuggests, against the suns just to mention some examples. I understand if you don't watch Spurs games so much. I can give you that.

PS. He has singlehandlely won an olympics final or close to it (watch the game)

[mavsluva]

I have to admit that I enjoying the Mavs struggles. I'm a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason and it's now happening to Mr. Cuban. While he is a very smart guy, his arrogance is now coming back to haunt both him as a person and the team that he owns. Maybe Mark will be humbled in the years to come so that his team can have another shot at being great.

On a different note - I watch the Mavs because I enjoy the game of basketball. Should they win the le this year, well then great. If not, well then that's cool, too. Mark Cuban and the Mavs are not paying my bills or sleeping in my bed so I'll not allow them to dictate my time and my emotions. Because at the end of the day, it's just a game. And I have no control over the outcome.

Congrats to the Spurs and best of luck to both teams for the remainder of the season!

[MoSpur]

Robert Horry has more rings than Jordan, but that obviously doesn't mean a thing.



Kobe and Lebron also have to distribute the scoring load when playing, and don't have any reliable second options. Manu is sent out there with the sole purpose to score, and he has other reliable options to help take pressure off of him.

Manu does not have to carry his team anywhere CLOSE to the way that Lebron and Kobe does. And there is no way in that Manu could even dream of doing what Lebron singlehandedly did to the Pistons in game 5 of last year. Lebron can singlehandedly win an entire game from start to finish. Manu absolutely can not. I'd say Lebron has plenty of heart. It's just not as easy to perform when you don't have other people on your team giving you a consistent effort, the way Manu's teammates do. Replace Manu with Lebron on the Spurs, and the Spurs are probably the greatest team of all time. Replace Lebron with Manu on the Cavs, and there is no way in they make it to the finals.

You obviously haven't followed Manu's NBA career and Olympic career. He led his team to a Gold medal. He helped the Spurs win three championships. He has taken over games a lot in his career with the Spurs. To say Manu cannot win a game singlehandedly is correct. Neither can LeBron. It takes a team to win. However, I see what you're trying to say. I saw that game where LeBron led his team to a win over the Pistons last year. It was amazing. I was in awe.

At the same time, I just saw Manu do the same thing to your Mavs last night except it wasn't the playoffs. Ask Suns and Nuggets fans if Manu can lead the Spurs to a win in the playoffs and you'll have your answer.

Manu is not on the same level as Kobe and LeBron. He doesn't need to be. However, Manu can be on that same level if needed like he showed you last night.

[stretch]

Wrong again. Manu singlehandlely won the game last night or he was very close. Manu has singlehandlely won games for the spurs many times in playoffs, he did it against the nuggests, against the suns just to mention some examples. I understand if you don't watch Spurs games so much. I can give you that.

PS. He has singlehandlely won an olympics final or close to it (watch the game)

Did Manu have to score basically every single point in the 4th quarter and score EVERY point in OT? No. Not even close. Lebron's team is so crappy that he HAS to score in times like those, which is even harder because then they can double and triple team him much more easily when they don't have to worry about anyone else being able to contribute. Manu still had guys like Duncan, Parker, Barry, Finley, Bowen, all of whom you still have to keep an eye out every time that they get an open shot (especially the latter 3 when they get open on the perimeter). Who do you have to pay attention to on the Cavs? Larry Hughes? Sasha Pavlocic? Drew Gooden? LOL. There is NO ONE on the Cavs that people actually FEAR taking shots aside from Lebron. He finally has someone that hits them in Daniel Gibson, but thats about all he does, and that doesn't nearly equate to what Manu has around him.

[stretch]

Dude, he's not required to. Plain and simple. I would recommend you to look at his career when he was playing for other teams and had to do most of the scoring. Look at Tim Duncan, do you have any doubts in your mind that if he had to do most of the scoring as Kobe or Lebron have, he wouldn't bring you 30/15/5 each game? He would for sure but that's not the plan. He puts getting rings as a priority. I bring the AI example again: does it matter if you score 50 and 60 points per game and not being able to get a ring and lose games? That's why I don't watch him play regardless of his scoring abilities.

Manu and Tim have also had teams that ALLOWED them to not have to carry their teams in every aspect of the game. Tim has guys that he can rely on to take heat off of him, like Manu, Parker, Bowen, etc...

Who does Kobe and Lebron have that consistently takes heat off of them? No one. Their teams are not even CLOSE in terms of the talent surrounding their superstars compared to the Spurs. You can't fault them for doing everything they can to win as many games as possible, which means they have to score 50 on a consistent basis. Blame their role players and FO for not helping them out.

[stretch]

Ask Suns and Nuggets fans if Manu can lead the Spurs to a win in the playoffs and you'll have your answer.

Yea, he can lead the SPURS to playoff victories... not the CAVS or the LAKERS. Major difference when you have Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in comparison to guys like Drew Gooden or Kwame Brown.

Lebron has singlehandedly won playoff SERIES as well. Thats a major difference from a GAME as well.

[Sec24Row7]

Yea, he can lead the SPURS to playoff victories... not the CAVS or the LAKERS. Major difference when you have Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in comparison to guys like Drew Gooden or Kwame Brown.

Lebron has singlehandedly won playoff SERIES as well. Thats a major difference from a GAME as well.

ROFL...

What makes you think a Maverick fan's opinion about what it takes to win in the playoffs has any significance?

Manu has taken over and won more big playoff games than any person playing in the NBA outside of 4 guys named Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, and Tim Duncan.

[stretch]

ROFL...

What makes you think a Maverick fan's opinion about what it takes to win in the playoffs has any significance?

Being a Mavs fan has nothing to do with this discussion whatsoever.

[LEONARD]

How did we get beat handily by the Mavs in Nov??

[thispego]

Robert Horry has more rings than Jordan, but that obviously doesn't mean a thing.

Kobe is to Manu as Jordan is to Horry?

ok ok, manu has as many rings as kobe with one team, better?

[Man of Steel]

Hate to be a pain in the ass about this...

But...

Here goes.

The word is not "disinterested."

To say someone is disinterested means that the person in unbiased, objective, etc.

This differs from "uninterested." I think this is what you mean.

The Mavs appear "uninterested."

[BeerIsGood!]

I see Jimmy the Dentist is starting the mojo early this year.

[stretch]

Kobe is to Manu as Jordan is to Horry?

ok ok, manu has as many rings as kobe with one team, better?

My point was that rings dont necessarily equate to someone being a better individual player than another either.

[stretch]

Hate to be a pain in the ass about this...

But...

Here goes.

The word is not "disinterested."

To say someone is disinterested means that the person in unbiased, objective, etc.

This differs from "uninterested." I think this is what you mean.

The Mavs appear "uninterested."

My apologies. I will use the term "uninterested" from now on.

[tmtcsc]

Hate to be a pain in the ass about this...

But...

Here goes.

The word is not "disinterested."

To say someone is disinterested means that the person in unbiased, objective, etc.

This differs from "uninterested." I think this is what you mean.

The Mavs appear "uninterested."

You're not being a pain but you are fighting the wrong fight. Disinterested also means without passion.


Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·in·ter·est·ed /dɪsˈɪntəˌrɛstɪd, -trɪstɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dis-in-tuh-res-tid, -tri-stid] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish motives: a disinterested decision by the referee.
2. not interested; indifferent.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1605–15; dis-1 + interested]

—Related forms
dis·in·ter·est·ed·ly, adverb
dis·in·ter·est·ed·ness, noun


—Synonyms 1. impartial, neutral, unprejudiced, dispassionate. See fair1.
—Antonyms 1. partial, biased.
—Usage note Disinterested and uninterested share a confused and confusing history. Disinterested was originally used to mean “not interested, indifferent”; uninterested in its earliest use meant “impartial.” By various developmental twists, disinterested is now used in both senses. Uninterested is used mainly in the sense “not interested, indifferent.” It is occasionally used to mean “not having a personal or property interest.”
Many object to the use of disinterested to mean “not interested, indifferent.” They insist that disinterested can mean only “impartial”: A disinterested observer is the best judge of behavior. However, both senses are well established in all varieties of English, and the sense intended is almost always clear from the context.

[Jimcs50]

I remember that year the Suns started 31-4. They sure whipped the Spurs in the playoffs that year, didn't they?

Where did I say that the Suns were going to whip us in the playoffs??????

You are like a girl, whereas one can not say anything good or positive about another girl or team without taking it as a knock to you or your team.

[BonnerDynasty]

One good game does not put you in a class with Lebron and Kobe. If he can average over 30/5/5 for an entire season then we can talk.

But yea, he played a very good game. And Dallas played a terrible game by their standards.

lmfao.

Ginobili does something important every game. He comes up with big plays on def/offense all the time. Without Ginobili, Spurs wouldn't even have 10 wins yet.